The Forest Ranger's Child. Leigh Bale

Even though she made no sound, her thin shoulders trembled. She was obviously crying and his chest tightened with regret. How he hated to see a woman cry.

       He rapped his knuckles against the door, wondering what he should say. Wondering how saving her life had made him feel so protective of her.

       She glanced over her shoulder and looked startled and self-conscious. She rubbed her reddened eyes with the backs of her hands and sat up quickly, her nose dripping. When she rested her small hands protectively over her tummy, he couldn’t help staring. How fragile she looked.

       “What do you want?” Her voice sounded like a croak.

       He reached for a tissue on the bedside stand and handed it to her. She whisked it from his fingers and blew her nose.

       “I don’t mean to intrude, but I couldn’t help overhearing. I was wondering if I can do anything for you,” he said.

       “No, nothing. I’m fine.” Her voice cracked and so did his heart.

       “Are you hungry?”

       She laughed and shook her head. “All you men are alike. You just don’t get it, do you?”

       “Get what?”

       The velvety softness of her brown eyes pinned him with fury. “I don’t want anything from you. Not now. Not ever.”

       Okay…

       “I didn’t mean to intrude, ma’am. I’ll leave you alone.” He turned to go, but she called him back.

       “Wait!” Her features softened with regret. “Look, I…I don’t mean to be ungrateful. It’s just that I don’t want to become involved again.”

       She bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes, her hands clenched. He stood there dumbfounded.

       “Why can’t this ever get easier?” She opened her eyes and looked at him.

       “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand.” Nate wondered what he’d walked into. He had no idea if this woman was mentally unstable or just overwrought from her ordeal. He’d heard pregnant women had lots of hormones running through their bodies that caused a roller coaster of emotions. And Lily had been through a traumatic event today. He decided keeping his silence might be the best thing for him to do.

       “I’m pregnant,” she said.

       He nodded, trying to comprehend. Wishing right now that he were anywhere but here. “Yes, I know.”

       “And I’ve never been married,” she blurted.

       He released a giant huff of air, finally understanding. Joyful and saddened by this news all at the same time. “And your father isn’t happy about that?”

       “No. Neither am I, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. I…I wanted to be married.” Her voice sounded small. “My father hates me.”

       “Ah, I’m sure he doesn’t hate you.”

       “Yes, he does.”

       She stared at her stomach and a strand of russet hair swept past her face. Nate’s fingers itched to tuck it back behind her ear, but he resisted the urge. He didn’t know how to comfort her. He’d been raised by a single mother in a small, traditional town, and knew how hard it could be. Lily must be frightened half to death.

       “Hank doesn’t hate you. He’s just hurting right now, but he’ll get over it. He was sure happy to see you. He’ll remember that once the shock of your pregnancy wears off.” Nate didn’t know why he was comforting her. When he’d been old enough to understand, his mother had explained that she’d conceived him out of wedlock and become the pariah of the town. Nate’s father had deserted her. Her father disowned her. She’d had no friends and no support. To earn a living, she’d worked as a waitress until she’d died shortly after Nate graduated from high school. The hard life had taken its toll, breaking her body and spirit. Now, Nate hated the thought of Lily Hansen and her innocent child going through the same thing simply because she’d made a mistake.

       “I don’t know if he’ll come back to get me or not.” A plump tear rolled down her cheek and she dashed it away.

       “Don’t worry, he’ll be here.”

       “How do you know?” She frowned at him. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you all of this. I’m really thankful for what you did today, but please leave now, before I make a bigger spectacle of myself than I already have.”

       There was no anger in her words, just resignation. Someone had done a pretty good job of alienating this woman to make her so distrustful. Nate was smart enough to realize she wasn’t herself right now, but her words wounded him just the same.

       He nodded, wondering why he’d allowed himself to get sucked into her troubles with her father. She was right. He didn’t belong here. “I’m sorry to have disturbed you.”

       Turning on his heel, he headed for the door, brushing past Shelby as she came in carrying a pitcher of water.

       “You okay, honey?” Shelby asked.

       “I’ll be fine,” came Lily’s throaty reply.

       Nate left the clinic, planning to return to work. Planning to forget the exchange he’d overheard between Hank and his daughter. Or that he’d ever saved the life of a beautiful woman named Lily Hansen.

      Chapter Three

      Two days later, Nate gripped the steering wheel of his truck and wondered what he was doing here at the clinic parking lot so early in the morning. He’d called the clinic each day to check up on Lily Hansen and find out when the doctor would release her. So much for forgetting their discussion when she’d asked him to leave.

       He must be crazy, but he couldn’t get her off his mind. Couldn’t forget her desperate situation or the fact that she was about to become a mother.

       After pacing the floor of his Forest Service house most of the night, he’d decided worrying about the small woman he’d rescued had become a full-time job. What would become of her if her father didn’t return and take her home? That question alone had pushed Nate to drive to the clinic instead of in to work.

       He’d been sitting here for almost two hours, watching and waiting. He didn’t have a clue what he’d do if Hank didn’t come for her.

       Rolling down the window, Nate inhaled a deep breath of fresh, spring air. Morning sunshine glinted off the hood of his truck and he lifted an arm to shield his eyes. Yellow daffodils filled the flower bed edging the sidewalk. What a beautiful day. Now if Hank would show up, Nate could clear his conscience and be on his way to the office.

       A rusty green pickup truck pulled into the parking lot. Nate leaned forward and squinted his eyes. Was that Hank Hansen?

       Yes! The truck stopped in front of the automatic double doors of the clinic.

       Nate sat back and released a satisfied sigh. Hank had come for his daughter, which meant everything was okay. Otherwise, the doctor wouldn’t let Lily go home today. And for some reason, that pleased Nate enormously.

       As predicted, the older man went inside, carrying a small brown bag. Within twenty-five minutes, he reappeared with Shelby pushing Lily in a wheelchair. Lily’s delicate hands were folded over her stomach. Glimmers of sunshine glinted off her long russet hair, showing highlighted streaks of auburn. Even from this distance, Nate remembered the velvet softness of her brown eyes. The smattering of freckles sprinkled across her pert nose. He sure wished he could see her smile just once.

       With her feet propped up on the footrest of the chair, she wore a red sweater, a pair of blue jeans and tennis shoes. Hank must have brought the clothing to her. Nate had no idea where Hank had gotten the clothes because Lily had just returned home and all her possessions were still buried in her mud-coated car. At least Hank was taking care of her.